Fence-post.



No. 785,270. PATENTED MAR.21',1905.

' A. 0. BEAMS.

FBN'GE POST. APPLIOATIOK FILED AUG. 0, 1904.

2 sums-sum 1 PA-TBNTED MAR. 21. 1905.

A. 0. BEAMS.

FENCE POST. Arruonxon FILED we. a, 1904. M

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Nirnn STATES Patented March 21, 1905.

ARON OSCAR BEAMS, OF CONCORD, ILLINOIS.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,270, dated March 21, 1905.

Application filed August 8, 1904. Serial No. 219,960-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LARONOsGAR REAMs,a'citizen of the United States, residing at Concord, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in fence-posts.

The object of the invention is to provide a fence-post having a base made up-of bricks clamped together between two plates, thereby forming an anchor for said post which will securely hold the same in the ground.

A further object is to provide a post and base of this character which will be simple, strong, durable, and inexpensive, means being provided whereby the line-wires or rails of the fence may be connected to the post.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of afence-post base constructed in accordance with the invention, .Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional viewthroughthe'post, taken above the base of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail side view through the post, showing the means whereby the ends of a rail are joined and connected to a post. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the same. Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal sectional view through the post, showing the manner of connecting thereto a rail which crosses the same; and Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of modified forms of devices for attaching the fence-wires to a post.

Referring more particularly tofthe draw ings, 1 denotes the post, which is inthe form of a channel-iron bar, the lower end of which is seated in a socket 2, formed on the top plate 3 of a base 1. The post 1 is suitably braced to said top plate 3 by means of inclined bracebars 5, which are secured to said plate and post, as shown. Below the top plate is arranged a bottom plate 6, and between said plates is adapted to be placed a stack of bricks 7, which form the base of the post. Any number of bricks may be employed in forming said base, sixteen being here shown as the preferred number to be used. -On the ends of the plates 3 and 6 are formed laterally-projecting apertured ears or lugs 8, through which are adapted to be passed tie-bolts 9. On the outer ends of the bolts 9 are adapted to be screwed clamping-nuts 10. On the side edges of the upper and lower plate, intermediate or between the ends of the same, are formed laterally projecting apertured ears or lugs 12, through which are adapted to be passed tiebolts 13. On the'upper ends of the tie-bolts 13 are adapted to be screwed clamping-nuts 14:. When the clamping-nuts 10 and 1 1 are screwed up upon the ends of the tie-bolts, the plates 3 and 6 will be tightly clamped against the stack of bricks, thereby holding the same in place and forming the base of the post. On the sides of the plates 3 and 6, adjacent to the ends of the same, are formed inwardly-projecting lugs or fingers 15, which are adapted to engage the sides of the brick stack, thereby forrning additional means for holding said bricks in place. The upper end of the tiebolts 9 and 13 are adapted to pass through the lower ends of the inclinedbrace-bars 5, thereby securely holding the lower ends of said bars in place.

When thefence-post'is used in connection with a rail fence, a rail engaging or holding device is employed for securing the ends of the rail to the post. The device for holding the ends of said rails is here shown as consisting of a plate 16, on the outer face of -which is formed laterally-projecting flanges 17. Between the flanges 17 is adapted to be placedthe end of the fence-rails 18. In the flanges 17 are formed alined apertures 19, through which are adapted to be passed retaining-bolts 20, which are adapted to engage the upper faces of the rails 18, thereby holding said rails in place. The plates 16 are adapted to be held on the post 1 by means of bolts 21, which are adapted to pass through said plates and post and to receive on their threaded outer ends nuts 21.

In attaching the rails 18, which cross the post 1, a spacing-plate 22 is arranged between said rail and the post, and through both of the same is passed a bolt 23. The bolt 23 also passes through an aperture in the post 1 and is adapted to receive a nut whereby the railplate 22 may be secured to the post. In applying the line-wires of a wire fence to a post suitable attaching devices are provided. These attaching devices may be of any suitable character and in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings are shown as being formed of a rod or bolt 24, bent upon itself in the form of a loop and having its opposite ends threaded,and is adapted to be'passed through an aperture formed in the post 1 and to receive a nut or bolt, thereby holding the same in place and forming a loop or support for the fence-wire.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings is shown a wireattaching device, consisting of a staple 24 the ends of which are adapted tobe passed through apertures in said post. On said ends are adapted to be screwed nuts, whereby said staple is held in place. In Fig. 9 of the drawings is shown another modified form of wire-attaching device, which in this instance consists of a bolt 26, which is passed through the right-angularly formed sides of the fencepost. To said bolt is connected a loop 27, through which is adapted to be passed the line-wires of the fence, thereby supporting and holding said line-wires in place.

In planting or setting up the post a suitable hole is dug in the ground. In the bottom of said hole is placed a bottom plate 6 of the base, the tie-bolts 9 and 13 having been first engaged with the said plate. The tiebolts are now inclined outwardly, and upon said bottom plate is laid the base of bricks 7 Said bricks are laid up in cement or other form of mortar, thereby forming a solid block. The tie-bolts are now brought up, and the upper plate 3 is placed upon the top of the stack or pile of bricks, with the ends of said tie-bolt projecting through the apertures in the same, after which the post is arranged within the socket 2 and the brace-bars 5 applied to the same, after which the clamping-nuts are applied to the upper ends of the tie-bolts and plates 3 and 6 clamped together.

A fence-post constructed as herein shown and described is adapted to have applied thereto either the line-wires of a wire fence or the rails of a wooden fence, or both wire and rails, thereby forming a combination-fence.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a fence-post, of a base consisting of top and bottom plates having projecting lugs, bricks arranged between the same, tie bolts adapted to be passed through said plates to hold and clamp the same together, a socket formed on said upper plate to receive thelower end of said post and brace bars connected to said plate and to said post whereby the latter is supported on said base, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a fence-post, of a base consisting of top and bottom plates, bricks or blocks arranged between the same, tie-bolts adapted to be passed through said plates to hold and clamp the same together, lugs formed on the edges of said plates and projecting toward each other, to prevent said bricks or blocks from slipping, a socket formed on said upper plate to receive therend of said post, brace-bars connected to said plate and post to 'hold the latter in place, and means whereby the fence is connected to said posts, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARON OSCAR BEAMS. Witnesses:

S. G. REN'ISCHLER, H. B. RENTSOHLER. 

